Orang asli not forgotten

MyCare looking into the Ramadan needs of community in Selangor

KUALA LUMPUR: An orang asli community in Ampang here received early Ramadan cheer with gifts of rice, cooking oil and other household necessities from non-governmental organisation Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCare).

The donation for the 26 families in Kampung Orang Asli Ulu Kemensah was part of MyCare’s humanitarian aid for orang asli, single mothers, poor families and war refugees, its chief executive officer Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar said.

“We will also be holding similar events for orang asli villages in Shah Alam and Ulu Langat, as well as preparing charity packs for Rohingya refugees, including those detained in immigration centres,” he said, adding that RM60,000 has been set aside for this purpose.

He added that the NGO also looked forward to partnering with more statutory bodies and government agencies to reach out to disadvantaged communities in the future.

Dara, who moved to the village from Pahang in her childhood, said the donated foodstuff would help the orang asli save on food costs.

“Every bit helps. When you have a large household, a 5kg rice packet will disappear fast,” she said.

For village community development and security chairman Jamlil Atong, 32, the gifts would help supplement villagers’ income.

“It’s going to be the fasting month already, so our main economic activity right now is collecting bamboo for Hari Raya,” he said.

Many of the villagers are without higher education and carry out traditional economic activities such as harvesting agarwood and other forest produce for wholesalers, he said.

“Even then, we can only earn about RM300 to RM400 a month,” said Jamlil.

Orang Asli Development Department officer for Petaling and Gombak districts Rogaiyah Mamat, who was one of the guests at the event, praised MyCare’s initiative.

“Such efforts help bridge the divide between orang asli and the larger Malaysian society,” said Rogaiyah.

Also present were MyCare trustee Dr Fauziah Mohd Hasan and general manager for operations Roha Hassan.

Caring group: MyCare members – Kamarul Zaman, Roha and Dr Fauziah – getting to know the orang asli of Perkampungan Orang Asli Hulu Kemensah prior to the start of Ramadan.